Kangemi roads yet to be upgraded as Pope's visit nears
A boda boda rides along Hinga Road in Kangemi with his passenger. The roads are in a terrible state yet Pope Francis will visit Kangemi. PHOTO | JAMES EKWAM | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Isuha said that City Hall was responsible for part of Thiong’o Road which leads to the parish. The section is yet to be repaired. The contractor is being blamed for the delay.
- In Mombasa, Muslim leaders have welcomed Pope Francis visit to Kenya saying it will benefit the country.
With only 22 days to go before Pope Francis arrives in the country, Nairobi County Hall and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority are trading accusations over the poor state of roads in Kangemi where he is expected to visit.
Residents of Kangemi have also complained about ill preparations in the area, given that the visit is expected to draw thousands to the Kangemi Catholic Parish.
Hinga and Thiong’o roads are yet to be upgraded ahead of the visit.
Kangemi Member of County Assembly Peter Isuha told the Nation he has been tossed from one office to another as he sought to establish who would fix the roads.
“I have been to the Governor who told me that I should go to Kura,” he said.
BLAME GAMES
Mr Isuha said that City Hall was responsible for part of Thiong’o Road which leads to the parish. The section is yet to be repaired. The contractor is being blamed for the delay.
The MCA said that City Hall should push the contractors who are lagging behind.
Kangemi Catholic Parish priest, Fr Pascal Mwijage, said they were yet to see work on the ground as the visit draws near.
Fr Mwijage said that they had seen tractors levelling the main road but this would be of no use if it rains.
“We are afraid that the rains will make the soil slippery,” the priest said.
CROWD CONTROL
The Church has also been promised that barriers would be erected along the roads to control crowds.
So far the road stretch that leads to the church has not been rebuilt. The road is narrow and steep. The parish leaders also expect street lights to be installed in the area.
“We also expect the street lights as we are sure people will start streaming in from as early as 5am,” said Fr Mwijage. The church is expecting over 1,000 faithful from 11 slums in Nairobi to come to Kangemi.
Meanwhile in Mombasa, Muslim leaders have welcomed the visit by Pope Francis saying it will benefit the country.
The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya said they were looking forward to the visit, hoping it would enable the country achieve peace that leaders have failed to promote among Kenyans.
Addressing journalists at the Imams council offices in Mwembe Tayari, organising secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa asked the Catholic Church leader to address the issue of incitement in Kenya.
“We are taking this opportunity to welcome the Catholic leader who is set to visit this nation,” said Sheikh Khalifa.
